Breeding Ground Part 16

"It makes my skin crawl to think I must mate with such an animal one day," Leaz said, frowning. "Why the G.o.ds made us dependent upon their seed to produce more females is beyond my reasoning."

The teacher's eyebrows knit together thoughtfully. "The male is not an abhorrent like the predator peoples, Leaz, merely lesser. It is your duty to care for them, to protect them from that which they are too inferior to protect themselves."

"Like children," Ma'qari argued. "Your skin wouldn't crawl at the thought of offering protection to a child now would it?"

"I suppose not," Leaz admitted after a brief hesitation.

"And my mother says mating is rather fun," Ma'qari teased. She grinned when the other girls laughed. "I plan to find out just what purpose the G.o.ds had in mind for the male as soon as I'm declared a warrior and able to offer my protection to them."

"I can tell you their purpose right here and now," another girl quipped. "Their purpose is to be on their backs, c.o.c.ks standing stiff, waiting to be mounted."

Alex smiled at the ensuing sound of female laughter, imagining-much to her amus.e.m.e.nt-the frowns that her crew would be making if they had overheard this conversation. She expected they'd feel as though they'd taken a tumble through the rabbit hole. And for all intents and purposes, they probably had.

Shaking her head, she continued walking down the main street of Zala. It didn't take long to surmise that the village was a throwback to the ancient Greece Aristotle would have called home. The only difference in the structure of the temples and shopping stalls was that the core material used for a.s.sembly was metallic in appearance rather than marble, and usually black or silver in color. Otherwise, Zala could have been, architecturally and culturally, the matriarchal version of the glory that once was Athens.

"I've something to show you, little warrior."

The unexpected sound of Fija's voice startled Alex. She whirled around and frowned up at the bigger woman. "I wouldn't do that again if I were you. My first instinct when taken by surprise is to kill first and ask questions later."

The Amazon snorted at that but otherwise ignored her statement. "Come with me. I know what it is you're looking for so I know you will wish to see what it is I want to show you."

"I've been asking you for answers since the moment we met. You've held your tongue. Now you want to talk?" Alex waved away the offer. "Thanks but no thanks. There's nothing you can show me that I can't find on my own before the noon meal."

"As Protector of the Temple, I've access to every sector and building within the perimeter of Zala. Including the one of most interest to you. You, however, do not."

"I'll take my chances." She turned on her heel to walk away. "There isn't a structure in existence I can't break my way into."

"My but my, we are as short-tempered as we are short, period." Fija rested a hand on her shoulder before she could walk off. "My males surrounded me the whole of our journey. Conversation was impossible and you well know it."

Alex turned around to face her. "And after that?"

For the first time since Alex had met Fija, the Amazon looked truly angry with, not to mention insulted by, her. "I was tired," Fija said slowly but distinctly, over-enunciating each word. "Thirteen days on foot for me with little sleep. There was only one eve of trekking for you."

Alex sighed. In her frustration and impatience, she hadn't considered that. h.e.l.l, she didn't even know why it was Fija had journeyed from Zala to begin with. Given all the predators that lurked outside the stronghold, there had to have been a good reason.

"I'm sorry," Alex said. "I should have given you the benefit of the doubt. You gave it to me upon hearing my story so I should have returned the favor."

The respect glinting in her eyes showed that the Amazon was appeased by her words. "Come," Fija said again. "You have questions." Her dark eyebrows shot up. "And I have answers."

Fija gave Alex an admittedly interesting tour of the city's main focal points. An hour and several stops later, though, and Alex was beginning to wonder if they'd ever get to the place the Amazon had promised to take her to-the one that would answer her most fundamental questions.

"Patience, little warrior," Fija murmured as if reading her thoughts. "We are almost there."

Another fifteen minutes of uphill trekking and Alex found herself gawking up at Zala's apex-and one of the most beautiful structures she'd ever laid eyes on. Made of a sleek material that resembled red diamonds, the imposing temple before her was set apart from the others, not only by its finer composite and unique color scheme, but also by the formidable hugeness of it. Where most temples, be they for learning or marketplaces, were ten to fifteen pillars wide, this one contained at least fifty of the spiraling architectural pieces.

"What is this place?" Alex asked.

"The Temple of the Dead Prophets," Fija answered with a reverence that could not be mistaken. "Inside are your answers, little warrior." She c.o.c.ked her head and looked Alex up and down. "And hopefully mine, too."

Alex hesitated for a brief moment as she wondered at her statement, then followed the Amazon to the mouth of the structure. Guards surrounded it on all sides, flanking every possible entrance. At first she feared they would try to keep them out, but much to Alex's astonishment, the guards bowed to Fija without questioning their presence, then moved to the side so they could walk past them.

"You are important in Zala." Alex stated it as a fact, not a question.

"I am."

"Yet another surprise." She threw her an acerbic look. "I see we are full of them."

"From any other woman," Fija said matter-of-factly, not breaking her stride as they made their way up a long case of twisting stairs, "I would take your tone as an insult to my house and challenge you to mortal combat-a fight to the death."

"So why not me?"

"Because I don't cut off my nose to spite my face." The warrior was quiet for a moment before adding, "And because I am hoping you are who you think you are."

Throwing a long, straight black tress over her shoulder, Fija threw a hand toward the lower chamber as they continued ascending from it. "The corridor below leads to another temple where our people come to pray. Each Takuri village has a protector-G.o.ddess and ours is Aleeda. It is from the all-knowing, all-powerful Aleeda that our warriors seek strength and wisdom. Her temple is open at all hours, a safe haven for all. But up here...only those granted access by me are permitted within."

Having reached the top of the staircase, Alex turned to face the Amazon. "You have been kind to me and my men. You brought us to your home and kept us from harm's way. For that reason, I feel grat.i.tude toward you. But that feeling is sinking, Fija. I respect and admire you, one warrior to another, but I've reached my boiling point."

Alex didn't know how to explain in words the irritation she was feeling inside. This little tour was interesting, but the Amazon's earlier words still stung. "You are hoping I am who I think I am. What does that mean?" She waved an agitated hand. "I've told you who I am! My name is Dr. Alexandria Frazier, commander and captain of the ill-fated Methuselah. That is who I am. That is all I've ever claimed to be. You say I claim to be the messiah of Tukuru! I have never said such a thing."

Silence ensued as narrowed green eyes locked with equally determined brown ones. The next few moments were quiet enough to hear a pin drop.

"Come," Fija said softly, breaking the silence. "In the chamber ahead. We will both have our questions answered."

Alex warily followed. Something about all the enigmatic statements the Amazon was throwing her way made her feel a bit uneasy, but she kept the pace.

Ten armed guards flanked the doors to the chamber in question. Fija waved them away. They bowed, then parted to give them entrance. Alex followed the warrior inside, the thud of doors closing behind her a reminder they were in this warm earthen chamber alone.

Commander Frazier stilled as she got her first good look at what was inside. Her eyes rounded. "This is a..."

"Hall of Herstory."

The main atrium of the museum was the entry point. It led to a long, wide corridor, which in turn led to who knows where. The red earthen walls were teeming with caged, untouchable items from antiquity. Pottery, jewelry-even munitions Alex recognized.

"A Laser-5," she said quietly, absently running a hand down the bar of a cage that contained a weapon she was all too familiar with.

"That is its name?" Fija murmured. She watched Alex with rapt interest. "Laser-5?"

Alex nodded as she walked on to the next display. "It has a lot of juice."

"Juice?"

"Killing power."

"We found a few in the black waters, but we could never figure out how to use them."

"That was the point. They only open and engage by a series of secret maneuverings." She sighed. "It was the perfect weapon in my day because it was armory that the enemy couldn't use against you if they managed to wrestle it from you in a struggle."

Alex smiled as she arrived at the next display-the fender from a 2010 sports car. Robert had loved collecting cla.s.sic automobiles like the Migimoto on display. Restoring them had been his favorite pastime.